Helio Telegraphhttp://news.wintersoasis.com
Straight from the wireThu, 05 Sep 2013 01:06:23 +0000en-UShourly1Circle Stopped; Serendipity-Acre Railroad to Enter Full Operationhttp://news.wintersoasis.com/circle-stopped-serendipity-acre-railroad-to-enter-full-operation/
http://news.wintersoasis.com/circle-stopped-serendipity-acre-railroad-to-enter-full-operation/#commentsThu, 05 Sep 2013 01:06:23 +0000Razielhttp://news.wintersoasis.com/?p=2037Despite numerous setbacks and delays, the Serendipity-Acre leg of the Trans-Lokan Railroad is finally set to begin regularly transporting passengers and cargo between the two cities. Though details are scarce, this appears to be a direct result of the most recent Grand Reopening of the line, held at the Serendipity rail yard earlier this month. Current reports indicate that, while en route to Acre, the train was attacked by members of the White Circle and forced to make an emergency stop.

However, while previous attempts to utilize the railway have been inhibited by the Circle, this particular locomotive was able to complete its journey with relatively superficial damage. This success has been attributed to the number and quality of the passengers onboard; notably a band of mercenaries led by the distinguished officer Augustus D. Haversham. These mercenaries, in addition to a number of armed passengers (a coyote, weasel, tiger, and bat mentioned specifically) were able to repel the Circle’s assault, sustaining few injuries in the process. Further attacks have waned in number since the incident, suggesting that the loss was a substantial blow to the anti-technological organization.

Serendipity police declined to comment on any coincidence regarding the convenient placement of the mercenaries on the train, and deny any involvement in the affair, but stated that they were “very pleased with the outcome on the whole, and … extend [their] thanks to the passengers who assisted in the locomotive’s defense.”

Upon arriving in Acre, many passengers complained of a “lingering smell” and “terrible headaches,” while the few magic users on the train reported that they were unable to use their abilities for a short time after the attack. Investigating physicians have attributed all of these symptoms to stress.

]]>http://news.wintersoasis.com/circle-stopped-serendipity-acre-railroad-to-enter-full-operation/feed/0Firefight in Muon, Robbery Thwartedhttp://news.wintersoasis.com/firefight-in-muon-robbery-thwarted/
http://news.wintersoasis.com/firefight-in-muon-robbery-thwarted/#commentsSun, 09 Jun 2013 20:57:25 +0000Razielhttp://news.wintersoasis.com/?p=2023Earlier this week in Muon, a routine airship delivery went awry as a gang of despicable brigands staged an assault on and armored stagecoach headed for Acre. Muon police were quick to respond to the robbery, and after a prolonged firefight were able to bring the would-be thieves to justice. Police have been fairly reticent about releasing further details of the attack, though they have reported that the target of the theft – a large sum of gold and jewelry – has been recovered in its entirety, and despite the intensity of the fight, no officers were wounded. The violence left one man dead, and at least 9 injured, though police have declined to divulge their identities. Collateral damages were limited to a small section of the road and adjacent buildings, which sustained only superficial damage from the rounds fired.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the case is the sheer number of rumors surrounding it. A number of witnesses attest to a single vigilante subduing most of the pirates before the police arrived, while others claim that a small group of brave citizens was responsible. Many of these same individuals state that the objective of the heist was not gold at all, but a powerful Svargan relic. One man, a known bootlegger and transient, went so far as to claim that “Leviathan himself” orchestrated the burglary.

Police Chief Adams has adamantly denied such stories, asserting that “…these outlandish accusations are little more than fairy tales. They serve no purpose other than inciting public panic, and attempting to disgrace the fine Police Force of Muon.”

]]>http://news.wintersoasis.com/firefight-in-muon-robbery-thwarted/feed/0Music Review- Aravyn Snowhttp://news.wintersoasis.com/music-review-aravyn-snow/
http://news.wintersoasis.com/music-review-aravyn-snow/#commentsTue, 24 Jul 2012 19:51:04 +0000Sozokihttp://news.wintersoasis.com/?p=1947I was recently invited to a private performance of Aravyn Snow, at the Red Rose Salon, in Helio. The performance was a bit of a teaser for the public performance he’s expected to give in Gilead at the end of the month, and included vocal work, as well as some delicate pieces played on flute.

It was a rare treat to hear the unearthly tones of a castrato as he sang several popular songs; as well as a few of his own creations; we were the first audience to hear ‘Sora’s Lament’; based upon the popular romantic tale of love lost; it was indicated that several of the songs at next month’s public performance will be based upon popular tales and folk stories, dealing with the topic of romance.

After the performance we were treated to wine, and offered the chance to speak with Aravyn himself– and the musician proved himself to be as pleasant a fellow speaking, as he was when singing, amicably answering questions put to him with grace and charm.

Overall, the performance was as expected; the music delightful. It was a pleasant way to spend an evening, and one can only hope that the singer can be convinced to share his gifts with the world more often.

-Detrah Morass, Helio

]]>http://news.wintersoasis.com/music-review-aravyn-snow/feed/0Murder in Acre, Authorities Uninterestedhttp://news.wintersoasis.com/murder-in-acre-authorities-uninterested/
http://news.wintersoasis.com/murder-in-acre-authorities-uninterested/#commentsSun, 13 Nov 2011 12:47:20 +0000Amjadhttp://news.wintersoasis.com/?p=119This week, a small child stumbled out of the crowd heading to the Coliseum with a sucking chest wound. He was taken to a local Chirurgeon (Zebulon ben Appelbaum) but his wound was pronounced untreatable. The child was a canine pasu without means or residence.

When asked, the Corps of Guards of the Peace of Acre said they had neither the man-power nor the time to investigate the murder. An unnamed guard commented that the city was better off with one less urchin and opined that the only crime was that he died in public on the street instead of a back alley where he wouldn’t cause a fuss.

Sources claim that the wound was indicative of being stabbed by a model of bayonet newly adopted by many military and para-military outfits as well as the Guards of the Peace of Acre.

]]>http://news.wintersoasis.com/murder-in-acre-authorities-uninterested/feed/0WANTED: KELURI – ALIVEhttp://news.wintersoasis.com/wanted-keluri/
http://news.wintersoasis.com/wanted-keluri/#commentsSat, 30 Jul 2011 19:59:51 +0000Kelketekhttp://www.wintersoasis.com/news/?p=95A bounty of 50,000 vira for the live capture of Keluri Airell has been declared by the crown. Keluri is wanted for grand theft, treason, murder, abandonment of his post and disturbing the peace. He is wanted to stand trial for his crimes. Any information which leads directly to the arrest of this individual will result in a reward of 30,000 vira. Live capture 50,000 vira. If he is dead, 500 vira.

Species: Otter

Height: around 6 feet

Eye color: blue

Last seen wearing a tricorn hat and carrying a rapier. Has markings on his right arm.

Keluri is to be considered armed and dangerous. Proceed with caution.

]]>http://news.wintersoasis.com/wanted-keluri/feed/0Patrol Found Slain on Helio-Gilead Highway!http://news.wintersoasis.com/patrol-found-slain-on-highway/
http://news.wintersoasis.com/patrol-found-slain-on-highway/#commentsMon, 25 Jul 2011 02:43:13 +0000Kelketekhttp://news.wintersoasis.com/?p=101In a crime of frightening sensationalism, disaster has struck our boys in armor on the road! Having stopped travelers for a routine inspection, Unit 351 was found butchered alongside the road. “It was ‘orrible!” lamented one Private Cossum. “He shot ol’ Stitch, and there must have been a wizard coz I saw Sarge’s face melt off, and I ran fast as me legs could carry back to Gilead!”
When this reporter arrived on the scene, the carnage was complete. I will spare my audience the sensational details, but it would appear to avoid detection, the scum offroaded their wagon. They are believed to have a connection with Esquemelin pirates, and any information regarding the incident will be handsomely rewarded by the Empire. Do your best to stop the Esquemelin threat!
]]>http://news.wintersoasis.com/patrol-found-slain-on-highway/feed/0Woman Found Murdered, “Mad Scientist” Suspected.http://news.wintersoasis.com/woman-found-murdered-mad-scientist-suspected/
http://news.wintersoasis.com/woman-found-murdered-mad-scientist-suspected/#commentsSun, 12 Jun 2011 11:31:45 +0000MaskedRathttp://www.wintersoasis.com/news/?p=75Last night, emergency services in Serendipity were dispatched to the residential block when a neighbor claimed to have heard screams. Upon entering the building, officers found the body of Emily Smith, aged 35, next to a battery-powered golem armed with a large, crude blade. The batteries were linked to the Solaris lab on Hawking and Higgs, and Professor Thomas Solaris is wanted for questioning in regards to this heinous act. His former co-worker, also in Serendipity, had this to say,
“What kind of man builds a machine to kill a girl? There’s no question who is to blame in this. He built the gun, he must have pulled the trigger.”

Further investigation revealed that Ms. Smith and Prof. Solaris were in a relationship prior to the events, and detectives are looking into possible motivations for this most heinous crime. The Telegraph and its correspondents in Serendipity extend our condolences to Ms. Smith’s friends and family, and have been asked to request anyone with information regarding Professor Solaris’ recent disappearance and Ms Smith’s murder to come forward to the Serendipity guard as soon as possible

]]>http://news.wintersoasis.com/woman-found-murdered-mad-scientist-suspected/feed/0Coliseum Champion “Camshaft” Murderedhttp://news.wintersoasis.com/camshaft-murdered/
http://news.wintersoasis.com/camshaft-murdered/#commentsWed, 06 Apr 2011 05:14:09 +0000The_Sly_Reporterhttp://wintersoasis.com/news/?p=58Yesterday evening, a report was sent in that Camshaft, The current Champion at the Acre Coliseum, had been murdered. Reports from an interview with Camshaft’s guards say that blood coated the ceiling and walls of his room, due to a cleanly cut gash through the jugular. The way Camshaft’s body laid suggested he was in bed when someone gagged and killed him.

“We didn’t hear any sound of struggle.” reports one of the guards.“The only thing that warned us of his death was the sudden scent of blood. Alarmed, we followed the trail quickly and it led us to Camshaft’s bedroom. We found him slain beside his bed with bedsheets stuffed in his mouth. From what I glanced at, there was blood everywhere. It dripped from the ceiling and specked the walls and furniture. Immediately we searched for the culprit.” The guards’ name were not disclosed.

The scent of blood in the air was said to had to been followed down a nearby hallway which led to a locked laundry room. After breaking the lock and forcing their way in, they found the room to be a slippery mess of soap and water. It was told that a garden hose was hanging inside the window, pumping water into the laundry room and flooding the floor. By the time the guards made it to the window, there was no sign of the perpetrator, only a single vixen fallen on the ground.

It was reported that the woman was named Vivian andwas rescued by the same two guards. They found her fallen on the ground in shock and with a black eye. Vivian, a servant and prime witness to this ordeal, was interviewed while being accompanied by one named Ivan.

“I was so scared.” she stated, still in obvious shock from the day’s event. “I don’t know where he came from. I was going down the hallway, bringing in fresh bed linen when this man came out of Camshaft’s room. He was covered with blood and I didn’t know what to do. He had a dagger and threatened to kill me if I screamed. He forced me to follow him and led me to the laundry room.” When asked about what kind of man she saw, she shivered and replied that she recognized him to be a tall fox. “He was frantic, he barricaded the laundry room and made a mess of the place. The he carried me out of the window and threw a hose inside the house that was running full blast. I don’t know why he did it and when I asked why he was doing this, he didn’t respond. He ordered me to be silent as he led the way to the gates. There were two guards up ahead, but before I could call out, the man had already pulled out a bow and killed both of them so quickly. I was in complete shock. He ordered me to move, but I don’t think I could have even if he threatened my life. Then he hit me… that’s all I can remember… I’m sorry…”

The surrounding perimeter was searched by guards, but there was no sign of a ‘tall, blood covered fox.’ The scent of blood faded in the air and was lost to all tracking.

Camshaft’s victory in today’s game was also his last. He had used a large war hammer to end his opponent Winter’s Bane, quickly after a hard blow to the stomach which stunned his adversary. The ticket to see the games that day was 15 coins. No other reports has been currently been made.

]]>http://news.wintersoasis.com/camshaft-murdered/feed/0Acre: Drought ends in Delugehttp://news.wintersoasis.com/acre-drought-ends-in-deluge/
http://news.wintersoasis.com/acre-drought-ends-in-deluge/#commentsSat, 02 Apr 2011 05:11:07 +0000MaskedRathttp://wintersoasis.com/news/?p=52Acre, home to Loka’s largest concentration of farmland, has been plagued by what appears to have been an unnatural drought for the past few weeks. Residents, passers-by, and farmers alike all reported bizarre weather patterns that completely excluded Acre and its surrounding farmlands from any and all rain, leaving only the weak flow of groundwater to sate the thirst of the plants.

While many agreed to answer this reporter’s questions, all chose to remain anonymous in this publication, and all cited rumors of a ‘dark cela’ being responsible for the goings on. These rumors had caught the attention of several different adventurers and travelers. In a sudden turn of events, several fights broke out, one resulting in gunfire, and at least one of them causing the curse to lift, but a female lizard- who had been traveling and likely investigating the events, warned the tavern of what was to come. The rain turned to a downpour, and the downpour to a deluge, flooding the town.

No fatalaties have been reported, but Acre is still working to repair the damage, and while a famine is not likely around the corner, crop production has taken a major setback because of the flood. The one responsible for this has not been found, it would seem that he or she was killed in the scuffle, breaking the curse. However, according to one magical expert, this magical feat “could not have been done alone.”

]]>http://news.wintersoasis.com/acre-drought-ends-in-deluge/feed/0Academy replicates Svargian Technology for automated physical laborhttp://news.wintersoasis.com/academy-replicates-svargian-technology-for-automated-physical-labor/
http://news.wintersoasis.com/academy-replicates-svargian-technology-for-automated-physical-labor/#commentsSat, 19 Mar 2011 05:12:22 +0000MaskedRathttp://wintersoasis.com/news/?p=46Yesterday marked the Twenty-Fifth anniversary of the collapse of the Rhythm and Blues Mine in Noria, a terrible incident that took the lives of five men. Among those men stolen by the mines was one Benjamin Solaris, whose son, Professor Thomas Solaris, PhD, unveiled a brilliant advancement in the world of Technology on that same day this year. He and his associate, Dr. Nicholas Latrans, have managed to create a working replica of a piece Svargian technology that had baffled the Academy for years- a small bipedal device not unlike a medicine ball with shoes. Now, while this journalist found the design itself baffling, the Professor was quoted as saying “If we continue unlocking the mysteries of [Svargian Technology], we could see cities built in a day.”

Of course, the real question at hand is what this lilliputian golem was for, and what applications it will find in our world. During the press conference, Solaris and Latrans disagreed over this very question when Prof. Solaris stated that he ultimately planned to have many of the more hazardous jobs (with mining being the most obvious) replaced by these simplistic golems or more complex iterations should the technology be found. Dr Latrans objected, saying that “if you change the working parts, you get a different machine”. While this is up for interpretation, many understood this to mean that if the workforce is replaced with golems, then the economy will shift drastically.